Our Team

Handlers & Dogs on the Call Out List

It takes many hours of commitment to train a search dog (read more here) and its a continual process throughout the dogs working career with the dogs and handlers regularly being assessed to ensure the high standards we have come to be famous for. Here are our handlers, past and present.

Mountain Dogs

Every mountain dog handler is an accomplished climber and mountaineer in their own right in summer and winter conditions, as well as being a member of a Mountain Rescue Team. Mountain dog teams are assessed at lowland standard first and then go on to be assessed at mountain level. Skills include avalanche searches and every handler is equipped to be self sufficient in all weathers and conditions. Handlers play key roles in their own rescue teams as well as being available as a dog team to every other rescue team in North Wales. Contact us to learn more.

Helen & Cluanie

Member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team

Sally & Spin

Member of Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team

Rich & Scout

Member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team

Gareth & Indy

Member of Llanberis MRT

Kev & Nop

Lowland Air Scenting dogs

All of our air scenting dog teams train as lowland search teams. They are trained and assessed to cover open areas, buildings, woodland, sand dunes and caravan parks and this type of work forms the majority of our call outs. Lowland areas can be extremely complex to search and require a great deal of skill from both dog and handler. There are often many distractions and the dog will often be working out of sight in complex ground. Lowland dog handlers don’t necessarily have to be a member of a mountain rescue team (although they will need to undertake additional training). If this sounds like something you would like to do click here.

Ester & Izzy

Mermber of North East Wales Search and Rescue Team

Roly & Shadow

Trainee - Member of Llanberis MRT

Alex & Ben

Member of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation

Antony and Gwyl

Member of Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team

Dave and Chloe

Trainee

Trailing Dogs

The trailing dogs can follow a scent of a specific person from the point that they were last seen. They can work in almost any area from urban to mountain and are trained to ignore other scents to find only the person they are looking for. Trailing dog handlers don’t necessarily have to be a member of a mountain rescue team (although they will need to undertake additional training). If this sounds like something you would like to do click here.

Damian & Skye

Member of Cheshire Search and Rescue Team

Tim & Izzy

Member of North East Wales Search and Rescue Team

Gethin & Sion

Trainee - Member of Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team

Dogs Bodies & Support

SARDA Wales relies on people who support the team during training weekends. Dogs Bodies are our bunch of essential training volunteers who – strangely – are happy to hide in obscure places, often in the rain for a few hours, then get slobbered on by a training dog (but thankfully not by the handler too!). Handlers must begin their training by being a dogs body first. Volunteer dogs bodies, and people who are skilled in catering for a team during team training weekends are always welcome. Please get in touch if you think you might like to join us!

Caroline

Body

Richard

Body

Kes & Emmer

Bodies

Ray

Body

Kerry

Body

Previous Legends

Gwen & Rolf

Trailing

Barry

Body

Iain & Mij

Trailing

Phil & Flash

Air Scenting

Mark & Monty

Air Scenting

Andy & Buster

Air Scenting

Gaynor & Pero

Air Scenting

Rob & Teal

Air Scenting

Marcus & Meg

Air Scenting

Helen & Linnhe

Air Scenting

Harold and Sam

Air Scenting

Roly & Willow

His 6th SARDA Dog

Geraint & Fly

Kev & Roly

Netti & Fen

Steve & Tilly

Rich & Celyn

Gareth & Max

Rob & Skye

Member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team

Cazz & Tess

Antony & Moss

Member of Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team

Bob & Freddie

Member of Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team

Geraint & Wil

Member of HM Coastguard - Llandwrog

Harold Burrows MBE & Fletch

Member of North East Wales Search and Rescue Team

Steve & Boris

Member of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team

We are a specialist Search Dog component of Mountain Rescue (England and Wales)